Oil-burning system.



PATENTED APR; 26, 1,9 04.

t. W. TUCKER & 0'. L. GRUNDBLL. OIL BURNING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1902. RENEWED SEPT. 19, 1903.

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OIL BURNING. SYSTEM.

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v UNITED. STATES Patented April 26, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FJDVVIN W. TUCKER AND CHARLES L. GRUNDELL, OF SAN FRANCISCO,

/ CALIFORNIA.

OIL-BURNING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters :Patent No. 758,224, dated, April26, 1904. I l

I Application filed June 26, 1902. Renewed-September 19, 1903. SerialNo. 173,782. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, EDWIN W. TnoKnR andCHARLES L. GRUNDELL, citizens of the United States, residing at andwhose post-office addresses are, respectively, 818 Page street and'1638Hyde street, invthe city and in the county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil-Burning Systems; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of said invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertains to make,use, and practice the, same.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for burningfuel-oils, and relates particularly to the adaptation of such apparatusto steam-generating plants.

The invention consists, primarily, of the combinatlon, wlth asteam-generating holler, of an air-compressor and receiving-tank with'means for maintaining a normal pressure therein, an oil and air heaterwith its contents under the pressure of the air-compressor and fed by anoil-pump, automatically maintaining a normal level in the said heater,strainers interposed in the pipe-line from the main,

storage-tank to, the heater, means for heating the oil in the heater,suitable piping from the heater to the furnaces of the boiler, specialfurnace-fronts consisting of a box-like structure normally flush withthe face of the boilerfront and having interior chambers extending intoand subjected to the heat of the furnace, cone-shaped openings throughsaid fronts flaring inwardly to form flame-inlets for the burners andinternally insulated from the extreme-heatthereof, the whole specialfurnace-front being either hinged or bolted to the front of the boiler,so'as to be readily swung free therefrom to facilitate access totheburners and to the furnaces, the air and oil supply to the burnersfixed to the furnace-v front being swivel-jointed on the same axis andadapted to swing with the said front, the said air-supply being ledthrough and superheated in the internal chambers of the saidfurnace-front before entering the burners, suitable valves, gages, andsecondary mechanisms in connection with above main verticalcross-section through'the furnace and boiler, taken on the line .2 2-,Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the special furnace- .front,showing form and mode of connecting air and fuel pipes to burners. Fig.4: is a vertical cross-section of the special furnace-front on the line2 .2, Fig. 2, lookingoutward, showing the outlines of the internalchambers therein. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the alarm mechanism. Fig. 6is a detail view of the hingevalve B. r

In the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar partsthroughout the several views.

The invention will be described with particular reference to itsapplication to marine conditions, wherein economy of water necessitatesthe use of air instead of steam as avehicle for atomizing the oil. Theextra drain on the boilers in the use of steam as avehicle, as well asmany advantages incident to the use of compressed air, commends thelatter in a variety of instances.

The-steam generated inthe boiler A passes into the pipe A fordistribution. led into the actuating-cylinder B of the aircompressor'through-the pipe B, which oper ates to compress the air in the cylinderB from which it passes to the receiving-tank'B The pressure of air isregulated by the auto matic pressure-governor B on the pipe B, set tothe desired pressure and balanced by the opposing pressures of the steamand air through the pipe B and the compensatingspring of the governor.The pop-valve-B acts as a safety against excess of pressure. From thetank B the air passes through the pipe B to the distributing-pipe B andalso through the check-valve B to the oil-heater O.

The oil-heater C is supplied from the main Steam is A oil-storagereservoir or settling-tank by. the duplex pump D through the pipe D andspring check-valve D. The pump'is actuated by steam from the pipe A Theoil is pumped through the strainers D,arranged between the valves D onthe oil-conduit D The strainers are arranged in two separate setsbetween valves, so that the oil may be diverted while one set isinoperative without interrupting its flow to the heater. The steam-pipeA enters the heater C and is coiled within the body thereof to heat theair and oil therein, passing thence to the condenser or hot well of thesteam-plant to save the condensation resulting from radiation. Theautomatic action of the pump Dis controlled by the throttle D operatedby the float D within the heater C. The lever D and its trunnion-pivotare hollow and open to the float D This permits seepage into the floatto be drawn off through the pet-cock D screwed onto the end of thetrunnion. For facility of access the lever D of the float is pivoted inthe manhole-plate D covering the opening in the tank. By thisarrangement the whole valve mechanism is readily accessible. The plate Dhas the graduated quadrant D affixed thereto to act in conjunctionwith'the exposed end of the lever D as an index to Show the oil-level inthe tank (I. The ball:

float D is adapted to float upon the surface of the oil. To avoidcollapsing of the ball by the air-pressure, a small hole is drilled inthe top of'the ball to. admit the air. When the ball drops below themean level, it opens the throttle Di admitting steam to theactuating-cyh inder of the pump D, which raises the level of the oil.Should the oil-level fall and the pump fail to operate, steam (through aby-pass in the throttle) would be admitted to the alarmwhistle D whichwould call attention to the failure of the pump. This effect would alsobe produced by an abnormal rise of the oillevel. The compressed airentering the heater C exerts a pressure on the oil therein, causing itto flow through the distributing-pipe D to the burners E. Any gasesarising from the heated oil may be evacuated through the valve D thenceforward through the distributingpipe B to the'burners E, absolutelyremoving all chances of explosion.

The type of burner shown formsthe subject of a separate application forpatent, and consists of a fitting having an internal dividing-wall, anair-pipe forming the shell of the burner screwed into the fitting andterminating in a tip, an oil-tube centrally located in said shell andscrewed into the dividing-wall of said fitting from behind in such amanner as to be readily withdrawn and replaced, a mixing-head screwedonto the end of the oiltube near the burner-tip and adapted to entirelyfill the bore of the burner-shell and having an extension into the boreof the tip, spiral grooves cut into the periphery of the mixinghead togive the escaping air a cyclonic whirl as it picks up the globules ofoil squirting from the holes in the mixing-head and spattering againstthe adjacent walls of the tip, means for controlling and regulatingvalves located on the respective supply-pipes adjacent the burner, andstop-valves adjacent the regulating-valves operated simultaneously by athrottle-lever.

From the distributing-pipe D the oil passes through the valves E E tothe oil-conduits of the burners. The swivel-joint E located on the axisof the hinge F of the furnace-front F, permits the latter to swing uponits axis without oil-leakage. The joint also acts as a valve to shut offthe oil-flow when the furnace-front is swung outward. From thedistributing-pipe B the air is led through the swivel-joint 13 (similarin every respect of operation to E to the inlet F of the internalcirculation-chambers F of the furnace-front F, aroundand through whichit passes, absorbing the radiatedheat from the furnace before passingthrough the outlets F to the burners. From the outlets F the air passesthrough the valve E E to the air-conduit of the burners, combining withthe oil and es caping in combustion in the furnaces. The valves E and Eact as regulating-valves to control the proportions of oil and steamadmitted to the burner. The valves E and E operated by the throttle Econtrol the volume of combustion independent of the proportions thereof.

The special furnace-fronts F combine four radical improvements inthisartto wit, superheating the air or steam used in combustion, keeping thefurnace-fronts cool by using the radiated heat formerly lost infire-brick of fuel. 1

Under ordinary conditions the furnace-front may be cast in one integralpiece, the internal chambers being suitably cored. It may be of anydesired shape Or contour, as conditions may demand, and is hung upon thehinges F, set out from the face thereof, to allow a free swing and roomfor the swivel in the pipe connections. It is held snugly to the face ofthe boiler-front X by the bolts F compressing the non-combustible gask tF between, The flared burner-openings F ,'subjected to the extreme heatof the burners, are therefore lined with the graphite lining F held inplace by the removable ring F. The bushing F through which the burnerextends, is slightly larger than the burner to give a draft of airaround same. The opening F covered by the swing-plate F gives apeep-hole view of the interior of the furnace. Should the air-supply forany reason fail, steam may be instantly substituted by burners can begraduated to any degree by opening the valve 13, leading from the dis-Io tributing-pipe, mixing the airdirect from the compressor with thesuperheated air issuing Should it be deg sired to cut out thesuperheating-chambers in from the furnace-fronts.

the furnace-front, close the valves 13 E and :5 open B 1 This gives adirect flow from distributing-pipe to burners. To blow out theoil-distributing pipe D and burners E with steam or air, close valve '1)and open B. This is advisable when shutting down the 2 plant to preventany oil from remaining in pipes or from running into the furnaces whenthe boiler is not under steam. Air is admitted through the damper-door Xin the usual manner, except that the bridge-wall G, which has anupwardly-curved face, gives it an upward trend into the path of theflame to prevent any cold air from passing into the furnace, which wouldotherwise form a strata of cold air between the combustion and thebottom of the furnace. sets, so that under a slow bell alternate burnersmay be shut down and the remainder regulated. In this manner the heat ismore evenly distributed than it could be where all the burden was placedupon a single burner. This arrangement of the burners in sets amounts tomore than a double use, inasmuch as a new result is accomplished. Bythis arrangement it is possible to cut down combustion to one-half andkeep all ignited burners operating at full capacity, insuring perfectcombustion and an equal distribution of heat under the boilers. This isa very important item in stormy or foggy Weather, when it may 4 5 benecessary to run for days under half-speed. N0 burner can be expected toaccomplish as perfect combustion under half capacity as under fullblast. Further, only the forward portion of the boiler is operated uponby the 5 flame, resulting in an irregular generation of steam It isobvious that this system may be adapted to other circumstances thanthose specifically above described and that changes may be made in thelocation of certain valves, 620.,

without departing from the spirit of this invention.

' Therefore what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an oil-burn ing system the combination with a steam-generator ofan air-compressor, a receiving-tank therefor, and means forautomatically maintaining a given pressure in said tank; a heater heatedby steam from said gener- The burners are arranged in ator, and adaptedto contain fuel-oil under the 5 pressure of air from the air-compressor,means for pumping oil from the source of supply through strainersarranged in parallel, whereby the flow may be diverted without stoppage,and means whereby a given oil-level is automat- 7 ically maintained inthe heater; distributingpipes leading from the heater below the oilleveland from the air-compressor to the burners under the steam-generator;and distributing-pipes leading from the heater above the oil-level tospecial furnace-fronts, containing internal superheatingchambers exposedto the radiated heat from the furnaces, from which the air is led to theburners: substantially as described. 30

2. In an oil-burning system the combination with a steam-generator, ofan air-compressor,

areceiving-tank therefor, and means for maintaining a given pressure insaid tank; a heater heated by steam from the said steam-genera- 5 tor,and adapted to contain fuel-oil under the pressure of the air from theair-compressor; a pump adapted to over balance a loaded checkvalve tosupply the said heater from the source of the oil-supply; means formaintaining a given oil-level in the said heater, con sisting of a floatpivoted in the manhole-plate resting upon the oil, and suitablyconnected with the throttle controlling the action of said pump and analarm mechanism, whereby the failure of said pump to perform its function will divert the steam to the alarm; distributing-pipes leading fromthe heater below the oil-level to the burners under the steamgenerator;and distributingpipes leading from the said heater above the oil-levelto the said burners; means for letting steam into the air-supply pipe;and means for letting steam or air into the oil-distributing pipesbetween the heater and the burners; substantially as described.

3. In an oil-burningsystem the combination of a steam-generator; anair-compressor; and an air and oil heater; with a furnace-front consisting vof a front hinged to the boiler-front, and having internalchambers subjected to the radiated heat of the furnace, openingstherethrough, having oil-burners fixed therein; oil

and air supply pipes swiveled on the axis of the'hinge of saidfurnace-front, the oil passing direct to the burner and the air passinginto and through the internal chambers of said furnace-front beforeentering the burner; substantially as described.

4. In an oil-burning system, the combination with a steam-generator, anoil-supply apparatus, an air-supply apparatus,of afurnace-front havinginternal chambers exposed to the action of the heat, said front beinghinged, an airpipe from the air-supply apparatus to said chambers and tothe burners direct, an oil-'pipe from the oil-supply apparatus whichconnects with the burners, said chambers connecting with the burners tosupply air, and hingevalves on said air and oil pipes whereby the supplyof air and oil can be cut oil.

5. In an oil-burning system, the combination with a furn ace-front,burner-openings thereon, air-spaces in the furnace-front around saidburner-openings, said spaces connected with the burners, of meanswhereby air under pressure is supplied to said burners through saidspaces, means for supplying oil to said burners, means whereby said airis supplied directly to the burners, omitting the airspaces and meanswhereby steam is supplied to the air-pipe.

6. In combination with an oil-burning system, a furnace-front hinged tothe boiler-front and having a plurality of burners projectingtherethrough, internal chambers in the furnace-front being exposed tothe heat of the furnace and through which air passes to the burners, ofmeans for supplying oil to the burners, means for supplying air to thechambers, and valved hinges on said supply means whereby the supply ofoil and air can be cut otf.

7. In combination with an oil-burning system, a heater, adapted tocontain fuel-oil and having a manhole-plate near the oil-level; a floattrunnioned in said manhole-plate,and having a hollow stem and trunnionedwhereby the seepage into the float may be drawn ofi': substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 16th day ofJune, 1902.

EDWIN W. TUCKER. CHARLES L. GRUNDELL. Witnesses:

G. F. HATToN, BALDWIN VALE.

